FCC Names Strategic Planning & Policy Chief

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai today announced that Wayne Leighton as chief of the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, continuing the work he has been doing as acting chief.

“Good public policy relies on a wide swath of experts including economists, policy analysts, technology experts, and strategic thinkers. Wayne and his team serve this purpose for the FCC and do a wonderful job at it,” said Chairman Pai. “I’m very pleased that Wayne has agreed to continue his work in this area. Specifically, Wayne’s leadership in developing recommendations for establishing the FCC’s future Office of Economics and Data has been invaluable and will be key to establishing an important new office.”

The Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis helps the commission develop strategic plans, identify the agency’s policy objectives and provide analysis and advice regarding complex, novel communications issues. The office includes numerous economists, engineers and policy experts working on various projects for the agency.

Prior to serving as acting chief, Leighton was a senior economist in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and a wireless adviser to then-FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.

Prior to his FCC service, he Leighton worked for an economic consulting firm, was senior economist with the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and has been a professor of economics at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala.

Leighton earned a doctorate in economics from George Mason University and undergraduate degrees in business and economics from Texas A&M University.